Special Event for International Women’s Day 2025

Women’s Equity Conversations | Accelerate Action: Advancing Gender Equity & Ending Gender Apartheid

Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM EST
Location: Virtual (Free & Open to All)

Education is one of the most powerful tools for breaking barriers and driving systemic change. This International Women’s Day, join Education Defenders Network (EDN) for a compelling discussion on how learning, advocacy, and policy reform can drive gender equity and justice worldwide.

This 90-minute event is part of the Women’s Equity Conversations series and will bring together leading experts, educators, and advocates to explore:

The impact of gender apartheid and systemic inequality
How education creates opportunities for women and marginalized communities
Policy solutions and advocacy strategies for sustainable change

Featured Speakers

Dr. Lara-Zuzan Golesorkhi – Gender & Human Rights Expert (USA)
Dr. Funmilola Oni-Adeniyi – Senior Development Specialist (South Africa)
Thanuja Thananayagam, MBA, MEd, PhD Candidate – Social Justice Scholar (Canada)
Ziyana Kotadia – Anti-Violence Advocate & Researcher (Canada)
Moderated by: Julia M. Satov, M.Ed – Inclusion & Social Impact Leader (Canada)

Why Attend?

Gain insights from global leaders in gender justice, social impact, and education
Explore the role of education in dismantling systemic barriers
Engage in an interactive discussion and contribute to the conversation

Hosted by: Education Defenders Network (EDN) in collaboration with Afghan Gender and Women Studies Group & Canada Knowledge Centre

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Demanding UN Accountability for Afghan Women’s Rights

In a strongly worded letter, EDN and its partners criticized the UN’s normalization of the Taliban’s education ban and called for a robust UN presence in Afghanistan. The letter urged the UN to advocate for formal education for girls and reject madrassas as a substitute, reinforcing the need for genuine human rights-focused leadership in UN missions.

EDN Champions Education Rights Amidst Systemic Gender-Based Violence

As part of its commitment to inclusive education, EDN collaborated with global partners to contribute to the December 2024 policy paper addressing systemic gender-based violence in Afghanistan. The paper highlights the devastating impact of the Taliban’s repressive policies on women’s access to education, emphasizing the urgent need for international intervention. EDN advocates for alternative education pathways and global accountability to safeguard Afghan women and girls’ fundamental rights.